Have you watched the occasional random videos that are just unusually satisfying? Maybe you’ve seen the last piece of dirt on a car window finally wiped away, or floor tiles cut perfectly and fitting snugly into their place. These videos give you a momentary feeling of bliss, and it makes you feel content for no apparent reason. Well, if you are weirdly passionate for oddly satisfying videos, I recommend checking out Japanese joinery! Plenty of videos out there showing all its glorious, interlocking pieces of wood coming together and sliding into carved slots perfectly. But don’t be mistaken, they’re not just for entertainment; they play a major role in Japanese architecture and have contributed to constructing centuries-old heritage sites, which still stand today thanks to their arts!
What About Joinery?
Image credit: Matthew Riley (Flickr)
Unlike conventional carpentry, Japanese joinery is a technique that involves no external reinforcements like fasteners or adhesives to piece a wooden construct together—the wood themselves are the reinforcers. Blocks & planks are connected not by hammering a nail in or by gluing them together, but by carving a custom-fit slot for the other piece to fit in through perfectly. Think of it as jigsaw puzzles but with wood.
Japanese joinery is used in carpentry and is referred to in Japanese as kigumi (木組み): techniques that are practiced by domiya daiku (堂宮大工, meaning temple carpenters) to build the structures of temples. They are also applied in woodworking, known as sashimono (指物) and are used to create antique cabinetry, accompanied by lacquerwork.
But why does it matter that nails aren’t used? Won’t carving and slotting individual pieces take longer than just screw them together? For starters, Japanese joinery came to be because Japan historically lacked natural metal resources, which led to nails being quite the unoptimal choice in the first place. However, it’s not to say that Japanese joinery came to be out of desperation, but of foresight.
Image credit: 22kengin22 (Photo AC)
While joinery may take extensive time, all the effort exhausted by past craftsmen is well worth it, as it has contributed to the everlasting strength of historic buildings, enduring centuries of storms and quakes. Above is the Yakushi-ji Temple, a historical structure built in the late 7th century using Japanese joinery. It has remained tall despite many earthquakes, demonstrating why joinery was preferred over nails. So, what are those reasons?
To begin with, the lack of external reinforcers prevents the construct from being rigid and allows the wood to bend, allowing the whole structure to be flexible, thus surviving shakes from the many earthquakes occurring in the land. Moreover, aged or broken parts due to rot from the weather can be disassembled and replaced easily to further the construct’s lifespan. In contrast, metal components accelerate aging and make replacing old parts difficult, thus limiting the building’s survivability.
Philosophy Behind Japanese Joinery
Image credit: AXP Photography (Pexels)
To be clear, joinery is not unique only to Japan. Joinery is an integral part of modern carpentry and has been embraced internationally. However, what sets Japanese joinery apart from Western joineries is its approach to aesthetic: while the latter attempts to conceal its joints, the former shows them in its entirety as part of the woodwork’s visual charm, emphasizing the precision and the skilled craftsmanship behind each connection. A perfect example of this can be seen in Kiyomizu-dera temple where the roofing was constructed using kigumi where the joints are let to stick out and are even further emphasized by painting with beautiful patterns (see picture above).
Japanese joinery shares similarities to Korean and Chinese joinery, but Japanese carpenters might have a particular philosophy in mind. Many temples in Japan were constructed using wood sourced from the very forest that surrounds them, placed in harmony with nature, and built with a deep respect for the forest as both a natural resource and as a vital part of the mountain’s ecosystem. This act also honors the religious significance in connection to Shinto.
When it comes to joinery specifically, the absence of nails piercing through wood symbolizes the purity and respect for wood. Moreover, Japanese craftsmen are devoted to weeding out imperfections by paying meticulous attention to detail, ensuring their work will live on for centuries.
Japanese Joinery in the Modern World
Image credit: Dylan Iwakuni (Instagram)
The domiya daiku of ages past foresaw the many shrines and temples they built would need repairs a hundred years later. As a result, Japanese joinery, which first played a role in creating them, now remains and plays a key role in the maintenance & restoration of said cultural heritage sites. Over in Kyoto, the Kiyomizu-dera Temple is undergoing renovation, and thanks to past joinery, current craftsmen can reuse much of the original materials for repairs. And in anticipation of the future when reusing parts is no longer feasible, new trees are being planted around the temple—rather than cutting down existing forests—to serve as wood for future carpenters. There are other notable restoration projects such as for the Nikkō Tōshogū shrine, a UNESCO-recognized world heritage.
Japanese joinery is traditionally passed down only through apprenticeships, but there are growing efforts to share its knowledge with the public. In Shinjuku City, a museum dedicated to showcasing kigumi allows visitors to try connecting wood joinery themselves. Additionally, an art exhibition highlights joinery as a form of art, while another museum focuses on the broader history of Japanese carpentry.
Image credit: eduwood 에듀우드 (Pexels)
Japanese joinery is more than simply nail-less; it’s a technique that blends precision craftsmanship with a philosophy of respecting nature. It stands as a testament to not underestimate the strength of wood, serving its legacy in building the oldest buildings to date and shaping future buildings.
Related articles:
- Tokyo’s Antique Treasures: A Guide to Second-Hand Furniture and Antique Markets
- Daisugi: Japan’s Sustainable Forestry Technique
- Why the World Should Learn Sustainability from Old Japan
Featured image credit: shonen_j (Photo AC)
